David Cameron to resign as MP

LONDON — David Cameron, who quit as British prime minister after the country voted to leave the European Union, on Monday announced he will be resigning as a member of parliament.

Going back on an earlier commitment to stay in the House of Commons, Cameron said he would be standing down from his constituency seat of Witney in Oxfordshire with “immediate effect.”

Cameron had been expected to serve out the rest of the parliamentary term as a backbench MP.

But speaking in his constituency Monday, Cameron said he would have found it “very difficult if not impossible” to carry out his work as an MP without being an “enormous distraction and diversion” from the work of the government.

He said he had informed Theresa May, the new prime minister, of his decision and received her support.

Before the Brexit vote, Cameron had planned to stay on as prime minister until shortly before the 2020 general election. He told a radio station in Oxfordshire in March that it was “very much my intention” to continue as an MP beyond 2020.

His decision comes days after May launched her first major policy offensive, with a call for the expansion of selective schools — a direction that Cameron was opposed to.

Asked whether his decision was a snub to May, Cameron told reporters: “Obviously I’m going to have my own views about different issues, people know that and that’s really the point. As a former prime minister it is very difficult to sit as a backbencher and not be an enormous distraction and diversion from what the government is doing.”

However, Cameron said he fully supported May’s premiership, adding that she had “got off to a great start.”

Paying tribute to his local party and constituents, he said he would continue to live in the area.

“I’m going to have to build a life outside Westminster,” he said. “I hope I’ll continue to contribute in terms of public service and contribute to this country that I love so much.”

In a statement issued in response to Cameron’s resignation, May said the Conservatives had “achieved great things” under his leadership.

“His commitment to lead a one nation government is one that I will continue – and I thank him for everything he has done for the Conservative party and the country,” she said.

Former Chancellor George Osborne, Cameron’s closest political ally and, until the Brexit vote, the favorite to succeed him, paid tribute to his “great friend.”

“We came into Parliament together, had a great partnership + I will miss him alongside me on the green benches over the coming years. Sad day” he posted on Twitter.

The last Prime Minister to resign from their constituency seat so soon after quitting Downing Street was Tony Blair, who stood down from both positions in June 2007. Gordon Brown, the last Labour Prime Minister, served a full parliamentary term as a backbench MP after losing the 2010 General Election to Cameron.

Blair’s predecessor, Conservative prime minister John Major, also stayed on as an MP until 2001, after being ousted in 1997. Even Margaret Thatcher, whose resignation in 1990 brought an end to an 11-year reign, served as a backbench MP until the next election in 1992.

A by-election will now be held in Witney, a safe Conservative seat.

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Maria Valentina Umer

As long as he doesn´t take up a well-paid job as consultant to the most rabid countries in the Russian sphere — such as Tony Blair has done — then all the best to Mr. Cameron. Gardning is a favorite English hobby. He might relax in such and be all the happier for it.

Posted on 9/12/16 | 5:22 PM CET

FierEuropeen

All the Europeans are eternally grateful to you, for getting rid us of the english. Enfin! 😀

Posted on 9/12/16 | 5:49 PM CET

Viv

@Maria Valentina Umer
“Gardening is a favourite English hobby.”

In 1950 it was yes.

Posted on 9/12/16 | 8:09 PM CET

Viv

@FierEuropeen

Are you 10?

Posted on 9/12/16 | 8:10 PM CET

CSK

Shame he couldn’t have resigned as an MP 10 years ago and taken Osborne with him.
So not only can he not face up to continuing to be the PM to try and undo the mess that he created, but he’s also cutting and running as an MP. Must be more skeletons for Theresa May to find in that cupboard he left behind at No 10! No backbone.

Posted on 9/12/16 | 9:38 PM CET

Maria Valentina Umer

@Vív, 8:09
What a shame that gardening in England was only a hobby in the 1950´s and, apparently, no longer so. I think the English have a little hand and green finger for their gardens, which are beautiful.
If only the English could dedicate themselves to such pursuits and leave the EU alone! I mean, beyond Brexit! I think Britons are much happier among themselves, which I can understand. British pensioners should continue visiting the continent for the sun and food they crave. But, otherwise, they are happy with their cup of tea and steak-and-and-kidney-pie, or Yorkshire pudding, or scones, and the other English delicacies during tea time.
Splendid! The Brits have it so good!
Why on earth do they retire in Southern European shores, then?

Posted on 9/12/16 | 10:09 PM CET

Viv

@Maria Valentina Umer
Did you post in the wrong comment? You seem to answer questions nobody asked, and comment on things that have no relevance. Do you just need to get things off your chest?

But anyway, pensioners, the tiny minority that retire to southern europe do so for the sun I would imagine. I don’t know really.

Posted on 9/13/16 | 1:00 AM CET

RW

I hope he leaves public life entirely. His staggering level of irresponsibility re. the Brexit vote is clear evidence that he should be nowhere near it.